Scorpion Express at Chessington World of Adventures review, ride info and photo gallery

Theme Park	Chessington World of Adventures
Park Area	Mexicana
Type	Powered Rollercoaster
Audience	Families
Opened	2014 (replaced Runaway Train)
Manufacturer	Mack Rides
Model	Blauer Enzian
Inversions	0
Extras	Fastrack On-Ride Photos

Scorpion Express

Having served for many years as Runaway Train, in 2014 Chessington re-themed and re-launched their powered mine train coaster as Scorpion Express.

The ride is set in an abandoned mining town which, following an explosion in the gold mine, has been overrun by scorpions. Before leaving, the locals built a large mechanical scorpion to guard their gold against thieves and looters.

You what? Yeah, not sure…

Obviously a lot of work was put into the animatronic scorpion which acts as the centrepiece of the new theme, but aside from that Scorpion Express feels like a cheap lazy job. Much of the rest of the theming is simple two-dimensional cut outs representing the town buildings. The ride is completely out in the open – a far cry from the previous rockwork and caves the train used to race through.

Unfortunately, Scorpion Express is a pretty ordinary ride. By and large, the standard layout Mack powered coasters are nothing fancy, but Chessington’s amazing accomplishments with the old Runaway Train put the average-ness of Scorpion Express into even sharper focus.

TPJ Rating:

Thrills:

Theming:

Experience:

Photo Gallery

Scorpion Valley

Scorpion Express ride entrance

Train

Around the curve

Circling the old mine equipment

Fire effect

Queueline posters

Station

Front of the train

Speeding past

Helix over the queueline

Runaway Train to Scorpion Express

Chessington's old Runaway Train closed in 2012 and was re-themed and converted into Scorpion Express over the 2013 season, with the new ride launching in 2014.